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them； will vanish to be replaced by something unknown； that
ambitions will lose their hold of us； and that； at the best； the
mere loss of hopes and fears will leave us empty。 So at least we
think； who seek not variation but continuance； since the spirit
must differ from the body and that thought alarms our
intelligence。
At least some of us think so； others； like Bickley； write down
the future as a black and endless night； which after all has its
consolations since； as has been wisely suggested； perhaps
oblivion is better than any memories。 Others again； like Bastin；
would say of it with the Frenchman； plus ca change； plus c'est la
meme chose。 Yet others； like Oro； consider it as a realm of
possibilities； probably unpleasant and perhaps non…existent； just
this and nothing more。 Only one thing is certain； that no
creature which has life desires to leap into the fire and from
the dross of doubts； to resolve the goldor the leadof
certainty。
〃It is time to be going；〃 said Bastin。 〃In these skies the sun
seems to tumble down； not to set decently as it does in England；
and if we wait any longer we shall be late for our appointment in
the sepulchre。 I am sorry because although I don't often notice
scenery； everything looks rather beautiful this evening。 That
star； for instance； I think it is called Venus。〃
〃And therefore one that Arbuthnot should admire；〃 broke in
Bickley； attempting to lighten matters with a joke。 〃But come on
and let us be rid of this fool's errand。 Certainly the world is a
lovely place after all； and for my part I hope that we haven't
seen the last of it；〃 he added with a sigh。
〃So do I；〃 said Bastin； 〃though of course； Faith teaches us
that there are much better ones beyond。 It is no use bothering
about what they are like； but I hope that the road to them
doesn't run through the hole that the old reprobate； Oro； calls
Nyo。〃
A few minutes later we started； each of us carrying his share
of the impedimenta。 I think that Tommy was the only really
cheerful member of the party； for he skipped about and barked；
running backwards and forwards into the mouth of the cave； as
though to hurry our movements。
〃Really；〃 said Bastin； 〃it is quite unholy to see an animal
going on in that way when it knows that it is about to descend
into the bowels of the earth。 I suppose it must like them。〃
〃Oh！ no；〃 commented Bickley； 〃it only likes what is in them
like Arbuthnot。 Since that little beast came in contact with the
Lady Yva； it has never been happy out of her company。〃
〃I think that is so；〃 said Bastin。 〃At any rate I have noticed
that it has been moping for the last two days； as it always does
when she is not present。 It even seems to like Oro who gives me
the creeps； perhaps because he is her father。 Dogs must be very
charitable animals。〃
By now we were in the cave marching past the wrecks of the
half…buried flying…machines； which Bickley； as he remarked
regretfully； had never found time thoroughly to examine。 Indeed；
to do so would have needed more digging than we could do without
proper instruments； since the machines were big and deeply
entombed in dust。
We came to the sepulchre and entered。
〃Well；〃 said Bickley； seating himself on the edge of one of the
coffins and holding up his lamp to look about him； 〃this place
seems fairly empty。 No one is keeping the assignation； Arbuthnot；
although the sun is well down。〃
As he spoke the words Yva stood before us。 Whence she came we
did not see； for all our backs were turned at the moment of her
arrival。 But there she was； calm； beautiful； radiating light。
Chapter XXIII
In the Temple of Fate
Yva glanced at me； and in her eyes I read tenderness and
solicitude； also something of inquiry。 It seemed to me as though
she were wondering what I should do under circumstances that
might； or would； arise； and in some secret fashion of which I was
but half conscious； drawing an answer from my soul。 Then she
turned； and； smiling in her dazzling way； said：
〃So； Bickley； as usual； you did not believe？ Because you did
not see him； therefore the Lord Oro； my father； never spoke with
Humphrey。 As though the Lord Oro could not pass you without your
knowledge； or； perchance； send thoughts clothed in his own shape
to work his errand。〃
〃How do you know that I did not believe Arbuthnot's story？〃
Bickley asked in a rather cross voice and avoiding the direct
issue。 〃Do you also send thoughts to work your errands clothed in
your own shape； Lady Yva？〃
〃Alas！ not so； though perhaps I could if I might。 It is very
simple； Bickley。 Standing here； I heard you say that although the
sun was well down there was no one to meet you as Humphrey had
expected； and from those words and your voice I guessed the
rest。〃
〃Your knowledge of the English language is improving fast； Lady
Yva。 Also； when I spoke； you were not here。〃
〃At least I was very near； Bickley； and these walls are thinner
than you think；〃 she answered； contemplating what seemed to be
solid rock with eyes that were full of innocence。 〃Oh！ friend；〃
she went on suddenly； 〃I wonder what there is which will cause
you to believe that you do not know all； that there exist many
things beyond the reach of your learning and imagination？ Well；
in a day or two； perhaps； even you will admit as much； and
confess it to meelsewhere；〃 and she sighed。
〃I am ready to confess now that much happens which I do not
understand at present； because I have not the key to the trick；〃
he replied。
Yva shook her head at him and smiled again。 Then she motioned
to all of us to stand close to her； and； stooping； lifted Tommy
in her arms。 Next moment that marvel happened which I have
described already； and we were whirling downwards through space；
to find ourselves in a very little time standing safe in the
caves of Nyo； breathless with the swiftness of our descent。 How
and on what we descended neither I nor the others ever learned。
It was and must remain one of the unexplained mysteries of our
great experience。
〃Whither now； Yva？〃 I asked； staring about me at the radiant
vastness。
〃The Lord Oro would speak with you； Humphrey。 Follow。 And I
pray you all do not make him wrath； for his mood is not gentle。〃
So once more we proceeded down the empty streets of that
underground abode which； except that it was better illuminated；
reminded me of the Greek conception of Hades。 We came to the
sacred fountain over which stood the guardian statue of Life；
pouring from the cups she held the waters of Good and Ill that
mingled into one health…giving wine。
〃Drink； all of you；〃 she said； 〃for I think before the sun sets
again upon the earth we shall need strength； every one of us。〃
So we drank； and she drank herself； and once more felt the
blood go dancing through our veins as though the draught had been
some nectar of the gods。 Then； h